Car-dumping platform



C. C. SMITH. CAR DUMPING PLATFORM.

` APPLICATION FILED AUG. 26, `15H9. 1,380,745 Patented June 7, 1921.

2 SHEETS-'SHEET 2v CLEMENT C. SMITH, OF VII-IEELING, WEST VIRGINIA. Y I

CAR-DUMPING PLATFORM.

Lasarte.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 7, 1921,

Application led August 26, 1919. Serial No. 319,945.

I To all whom t may cof/cern ing is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to car dumping apparatus, and more particularly to an automatic dump-:platform for mine cars and the like. Y

The primary obj ect of the invention is to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive load-dumping device for mine cars .and other cars from which the load is dis- -charged through an end thereof by gravity or lby the impetus produced when the car assumes an inclined position.

A further object' is to provide a car arresting and dumping platform whichv is automatically actuated to assume its inclined car-dumping position when the forward movement of the latter is arrested.

A still further object is to provide a dumping platform o-f the character mentioned which is adapted to automatically resume its normal .horizontal position following the dumping operation, andv which is provided Y with-means whereby` adjustment may be made to suit various cars and conditions of car loading so that not only is the complete emptying of the car insured, but also the return ofthe platform and car to ynormal position following unloading of the latter.

Another object within the contemplation of this invention is to provide a throughdump, which may be defined as a car-dumping dev-ice located intermediate the ends of a trackway and so arranged that it may either be operatively disposed for arresting the forward travel of carsthereover and for effecting the dumping of cars so arrested, or rendered inoperative for dumping cars by disposing it in position wherein cars are permitted to unobstructedly travel thereover to the portion of the trackway located in advance thereof. Y

Vith these and other important objects in view, the invention resides in the features of v construction, arrangement of parts and combinations of elements which will hereinafter be exemplified, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in whichyFigure .1 is a side elevation of theinveni tion with portions broken away;

Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially on the line 2 2, Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is atop plan view;

Fig. l is an enlarged top plan view of a means whereby adjustment is effected for insuring the return of the car and platform to normal position following the dumping operation; and-f Fig. 5 is a partial longitudinal section of the same.

Referring to said drawings,

in which like 'Y designating characters refer to like parts;

throughout the several views--` l indicates the upright supporting tim@V bers of a tipple structure which may be ofany appropriate construction, but which, as

herein shown for illustrative purposes,com

prises longitudinally disposed I-beams 2 resting upon transverse supporting members 3. Leading onto the tipple and mounted upon suitable timbers, as 4, are track rails 5 with the ends of which register the rear ends of alined rails 6 that are mounted upon the dumping platform which constitutes the.

main or essential feature of the present invention.

Said dumping platform comprises a pair of parallel longitudinally extending rockers f 7 whichare herein shown as resting upon channel members 8 that are seated upon the top surface of the I-,beams 2. lThe under sides or bottom surfaces of said rockers are of sled-runner form., each having a plain straight portion and an upwardly and forwardly curved portion or surface, the latter located adjacent to the front end of the` rockervand constituting a surface 7a upon which the platform may rock or roll forward to the inclined position indicated in. dotted lines in Fig. 1. Said rockers maybev of Ik-beam form in cross-section, as shown,`

or may be of other cross section and may be composed of any preferred material.

Superposed upon said rockers 7 are the platform track-rails 6 hereinbefore referred to, the same extending forward a suitable distance in advance of the front ends of saidy rockers and carrying at oradjacent to their front ends chocks, as 9 and 10, adapted to be engaged by the front wheels 11 of a car 12 for arresting forward move-ment of the latter vlien it has assumed a position on the platform appropriate for dumping. As herein shown, said chocks 9 and 10 are constituted by ben-ding the front ends of said. rails 6 upward into suitable form. It willl ioo i be understood, however, that the checks need n-ot form integral parts of said rails 6.

A transverse tie-rod 13, which may be one lof a plurality employed for connecting and maintaining in spaced relation the two oppo.

site rockers 7, is disposed adjacent to the front ends of said rockers in an appropriate position. Pivoted upon the opposite ends of said tie-rod 18, or to suitably located pivotpins carried by said rocker, are the upper ends of downwardly and forwardly inclined links 14 which khave their opposite ends pivotally mounted at suitable points on the tipple structure, as uponthe ends of a suitably located transverse rod 15 .carried by the I--beams 2.

Theoretically, the arrangement of the various parts of the structure above described is such that. the center of gravity of a car, either loaded or unloaded, which stands at rest on the platform in the farthest advanced position permitted by the wheel checks, is located iii a vertical transverse plane intersecting the rockers 7 at the points where the tangents constituted bv the plain straight under surfaces of said rockers meet the curved surfaces 7a of the latter. Also,

Vtheoretically, the curve described by the surface 7 is struck withr a radius having a length equal to the vertical distance from the plane of the bottoms or under sides of the rockers 7 to the center of gravity of the empty car and platform.,l Consequently,

l when'the car is at rest in the position indicated in full lines in Fig. 1, an approximate balance is maintained-that is, the equilibrium of the platform and the car mounted l thereon is of such unstable character that a slight or practically negligible force will overbalan'ce the platform with the loaded car thereon, the lrockers 7 being caused to roll forward on their curved surfaces 7a. This results from the circumstance that the slight force above referred to advances the center of gravity of the load in front of that of the carand platform. This rolling forward of the platform, as aforesaid, causes the Acar to assume the dottedline position thereof indicated in Fig. 1, in which the inclination is such that the load will slide by gravity from the car.

As ordinarily equipped, mine cars are pro-- vided rwith end-gates secured in place by means of latch mechanism which is actuated to automatically release the gate as the car assumes its inclined dumping position, allowingjthe gate to swing' open for Vreleasing the load. mmediately when the gate opens, some of the forward part of the load will slide from the car and the center of gravity of the load will consequently beshifted toward the 'rear of the car, producing. a tendency in the car and the car-supporting platform to swing or fall back to their normal horizontal position. Ubviously, this Ving motion of the car has attained a momen tum su'iciently great to overcome the effect of the aforesaid shifting of the center ,ofY

gravity of the load.

As hereinbefore indicated, when thel length I of the radius of the curved surfaces Ta'of the rockers is equal to the distance from the' plane of the bottom surfaces of the rockers to that of a parallel plane passed through the center of gravity of the empty car and plat-l form, the car will, theoretically considered, remain in any position to which it is moved between the points indicated in full lines and in dotted lines in Fig. 1. lt will ltherefore be understood that when the loaded car is caused to engage the chockswith considerable force, as ordinarily, the momentum will be sufficient to carry the car and platform to dumping position'atspeed which vwill result in theload beingpromptly dislodged or Vdischarged from. the car. Tncidentally, it may here be pointed out that if the position of the wheel checks be slightly advanced so that when the wheels engage the latterith'e 7 centerrof gravity of the lload is slightly in advance of avertical transverse planeinter-Y be increased toward the center of gravity of i the loaded car-,the tendency will be for the platform and car toroll back to normal position following dumping. Since ,theheight of the centers of gravity of different empty cars will obviously vary, as also the location of the centers of gravity of variously loaded cars, and it is consequent-ly impossible that the curved surfaces 7a shall be soproduced that the dumping and return movements of the cars shall invariably be effected auto matically, it becomes important that means of adjustment be afforded whereby the platform may be adjusted to suit various 'c arsV and conditions of loading. TnsteadV of Vchanging-the curvature of the curved surfaces of the rockers to suit the radial dis- ,Y

tance of the center of gravity, it is preferred that Ymeans' be employed involving` the pro-V vision of a device whereby the grade or inclination of the surface upon which the rockers` roll may be varied. For purposes of Villustration Vof such means l have herein shown the front end portions 8a of the channel mem:

bers 8, upon which rock or roll the surfaces The links 14 arek designedwasa means of maintaining the rockers against .longitudi- 7a of the rockers v7 as adapted to be inclined 'more yorless withrrespe'ct tothe plane of the surface'upon'whichthe bottoms of said rockers-rest', thus vchanging the grade upon which said rockers travel. A wedge l'having its edge introducedunder each of said portions Sais adjustable-for changing the inclina-tion lof the latter.-` Said wedge may be secured in adjusted* position in lany suitable manner, as by means of'one or more bolts 17 carried by the underlying I-beams 2 andrextending through alongitudinal. slot orslots 18 provided therefor in the wedge; 1t is evident, however, that various other simple means may be employed: for.:adjusting the inclination of said porti'onsSa.

The extent of the forward tippingy movement of the carrmay be limited by the provision of a suitable bumper, as 19, at a suitable point adjacent to the upper end .of the chute 2O upon which the load is deposited or dumped, said bumper being adapted to have'a suitablev part, as the underside of the front endy of the car, seat-thereon,`as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

nal sliding movement upon-the surfaces upon which they rock or. roll as aforesaid It iS evident, however, that said links( constitute butV one of various equivalent means which might be employedv for this purpose.V

It is frequentlyfdesirable that the dump.- ing platform be located in an"l intermediate position in a trackway so that vcars may travel thereover, aslto and from more advanced dumping positions on the tipple. To nadapt the platform for permitting of such travel thereover-that is, to adapt 'it V for use .asv` a I through: dump the platform rails Glare mounted upon a suitable frame, as that constituted Vby the transverse bars 21, rather Y than directly upon the rockers 7, and said bars 21'are in turn Vmounted upon said rockers sofas to be laterally shiftable for carrying said rails 6 into and out of register with thevtrackrails 5. Also mounted i upon ysaidbars 21 parallel to and at a suitably spaced distance from said platform rails -6V are straight rail sections 22-which in the shifted position of said bars register at-their rear ends with said track rails 5 andf at their frontiei'idsV with rail ,sections 23 locatedfat the adjacent end of anadvanced portion of the trackway. Saidrail sections 23 are arranged to be 'movable to a position wherein they will in no way obstruct the movement of lthe-car to dumping position, as to the V approximately vertical position shown in dotted lines in Fig. ,1, when the platform' Vdescribed is utilized for dumpingpurposes.V Normally; however, said rail sections havev their rear -ends resting-upon'suitable seats,

as 24 mounted upon the I-beains 2,.as`

shown. The front ends of said sections have pivotal connection through Y straps 25 or 'other equivalent-means with vthe adjacent ends? of the rails 26 of a permanently seated portion of the 'traclrway w f U l f is obvious, when it is desired thatcars pass unobstructedly over the platform'. to said rails 26, the frame .with the railsections 6and22zmounted thereon is bodily shifted to theposition indicated in dotted-lines in Figs. v2and VInzsa'id position, the front ends ofthey rail sections22 rest-upon the adjacentiendsrof .the-fseats 24, preventing tipping `movement-of the platform. `Any preferred mechanism for effecting the lateral shifting `of the frame and superposed rail sections may be employed. j

' To permit of the unobstructed travel of carsoverathe straightfrailsections 22, ythe chock 10 of the rail section 6 which' occupies a positionbetweensaid rail sections' 22 is made of relatively short'len'gth so that it w1ll` ,not1be .engaged by the axles of cars passing thereover, as -isfmost clearly indicated infdotted lines in Fig. 2. As is manifest,.since the Aopposite rail section 6 is 1ocated 'laterally ofthe: path of cars traveling over said rail'sections22,ithe chock 9 thereof may be of any desired height.

ing approximately sled-runner? form, .unyieldingsupports forvsaid` rockers, rail sec.-v

tions superimposed lon and wholly supported by said rockers with their rear ends in register .with saidtrack rails, wheel -chocks carried adjacentY tothe front ends ofsaid rail-.zsectiona-and means for preventing 'longitudinal movement of said rockers on said supports.v i

2. The combination with a tipple` -structure-having 'track rails leading thereto, of a dumping;V platform comprising a pair of opposite longitudinally disposed? rockers having approximately sled-runner form, unyielding supports for said rockers, rail sec-1 tions superimposed onand wholly supported by said rockers with theirl rear ends in register with said'track rails, wheel chocks V'carried adjacent tothe front ends of said yiio ieof

ture lhaving track rails leading thereto, yof a dumping platform comprisingunyielding supports, a pair of-opposite longitudinally disposed rockers mounted upon said supports, said rockers having the underfsurfaces of their front ends curved upwardly and forwardly upon a suitableiradius, rail sections superposedi'over andgwhollyv supported bysaid rockers-with their rear ends in register withfsaid track rails,suitably located kmeans for arresting the advance of a carwhich mounts said rail section, and adjustable means for varying.; the `,speed -at which said rockers rock forward on 'their curved surfaces for vCarrying :a car to dumping position. i l. Y v l .41. `The combination with a tipple: structure having track railsleading thereto, ofa dumping platform comprising'a pair of oppositelongitudinally disposedrockers of approXimatelysled-runner form, rail sections superimposed on and sustaining the entire weight of .said rockers, ysaid `rail sections having their rearlends in registerwith said track rails, wheel .cliockszcarried'adjacent to -tlie'front ends of said rail sections for arresting the advance of a car which mounts said railvsections, said rockers beingl adapted to. be automatically actuated by al'car engaging said chocks to .rock forward on'the curved surfaces thereof forcarryin'gthe` car to dumping position, and means for varying the speed at which'the rockers operate.

V5. The vcombination with a tipple struc ture having'trackrailsleading thereto, of a dumping platform comprising a pair-of oppositey longitudinally disposed rockers Y having the under' surfacesofgthe'ir front ends curved upwardly .and forwardly, :rail

sections superimposed. on said rockers. with rails, ywheel-checks carried adjacent to the front ends of' said frailf sections for arrestinglthe advance of acar which mountssaid rail sections, said rockers being adaptedto be-automatically actuated by a carlengagingsaid chocks to`roll forward on the curved surfacesfthereofffor 'carrying the'l car' to dumping position, said 'curved surfaces being produced onv a radius having a length at least Vequal tothe vertical distancefrom the-plane of the lbottoms of saidrockers to ii-,asoma sections for arresting theadvance of a" car' which `mounts said rail sections, said rockers being adapted` tov be automatically V actuated by ya car lengaging said lchoeksto'roll for:-

ward on the Vcurved surfaces .thereoffor carr rying the vcar to dumping Iposition, said curved surfaces being produced on a radius having a length'at least equal to lthe vertical A dista-nce from the plane of. the bottoms Vof said rockers to, that of thefcentergof gravity ofthe empty car and platform,l -unyielding supports upon which said rockers rest, said supports having their` upper lsurfaces f disposed in arr approximately horizontal plane, and adjustable'meansv for inclining the `por- 1 site longitudinally"disposed rockersf'having f Y the plane under :surfaces resting'fuponfsaid supports and having the 'underj` surfacesfof their frontY ends upwardly and forwardly inclined, inclinable 1 Vmembers disposed inL aun- 'derlying lr'elation toy said .inclined portionsA of Y said rockersandf adapted to ,have said portions mountthereon 'when said rockers are rolled'y forward, means 'fori adjusting the jinclinationof said' i'nembers, and rail sections superimposed .on Vsaid# rockers and #having 100 their rearends infregister with' saidtrack rails,` the frontendsofsaidrrail sections beii'ig curved vupward to. form wheel rchocks, said platform being'v adapted:{to-automatically rockforward lto car-dumping position .1 l ltheirvrear'ends in registerrwith. saidtrack Vwhen a carhas mountedfsaid platform'and to return to normal" position -followingthe dumping operation. l i

8. Av through-dump for tipplesconsisting 'of a2trackwayyhaving interposed :therein .appro'Ximatelyj sled-runnerA form, a iframe superposed upo'n'a-nd laterally slidab'lewith respect to-said rockers, a pair fofparallel straight rail,Y sections carried -byjsaid frame that of the center lof gravity of-'the empty Vland adapted in oneposition of the latter to car `and platform.

6. The combination with a'tipple structure having track/rails leading thereto, of a lsaid rail sections having vtheir rear ends inV register with sa'idftrackrails,wheel"checksy complement the portions of fthe trackway located forward :and-'rearw'ard of the-platform Vwhereby a through'track-is provided,

and a Apair yof vrail" sections carried lbysaid and havingl vwheel chocks associated with iis frame parallel f to` said straight 4rail nsections their front ends; means Vfor, shiftingsaid lframeY laterally to carry keither of said Ypairs,

of railfsections v4into register fwithfthe''platform-approaching fportion ofthe tracl'rway,

carried adjacent to the frontfe'nds of :said rail *the curvedfportion's ofthe unders'uffrfaces of said curved portions, carrying the car to an inclined position in` which the load is dumped therefrom, and means `for supporting said platform against forward-ftlpplng when the straight rail'sec'tions are-in register A with the adjacent portions of the trackway.

9. A through-dump for tipples consisting of a traclrway having interposed therein a dumping platform; said platform comprising a pair of opposite longitudinally disposed rockers having their under surfaces of approximately sled-runner form, a vframe superposed upon and laterally shiftable with respect to said rockers; a pair of parallel rail sections carried by said frame andV adapted in one position of the latter to register with the platform-approaching portion of the trackway, said rail sections having wheel chocks located adjacent to their front ends whereby the travel of a car mounting said sections is arrested; said platform being actuated by gravity assisted by the impetus ofthe suddenly arrested car to rock forward on said rockers for tipping said car to loaddumping position;. a pair of straight rall sectionscarried by said frame laterally of the first mentioned rail sections and adapted in another position of said frame to complement the portions of the trackway located forward and rearward of the platform whereby a lthrough track is provided, means for shifting said trackV laterally to carry either ofsaid pairs of rail sections into operative position, and means whereby the platform is stabilized when the pair o f straight rail sections occupies operative position.

10. A dumping platform for cars comprisincr a pair of parallel rockers having rail sections superposed thereon for receiving cars to be dumped, suitably located wheel checks associated with said rail sections, said rockers having the under surfaces thereof of approximately sled-runner form so that, when a loaded car advances upon said sections into engagement with said chocks, the rockers are automatically tipped forward to a position in which the load is dumped from said car and, following such dumping, are automatically returned to normalv position through shifting ofthe location of the center of gravity.

11. A dumping platform for cars comprising a pair ofV parallel rockers having` rail sections superposed thereon for receiving cars to be dumpedq supports having plane surfaces upon which said rockers normally rest, suitably located wheel chocks associated with said rail sections, said rockers having the under surface portions of the front ends thereof upwardly and forwardly curved and dumped from said car;

-so'disposed with respect to the-location of 'the center of gravity of a loaded car which 'is disposed upon said rail sections against said chocks that said rockers are automatically actuated to rock-forward' on said supports to a position in which the load is f 12. `Adulnpin'g platform for cars comprising, in combination with supports having plane surfaces, of a pair of parallel rockers seated upon said surfaces, said rockers having rail sections superposed thereon for receiving cars to be dumped, suitably located wheel chocks associated with said rail section, said rockers having the under surface portions of the front ends thereof upwardly and forwardly curved' and so disposed with respect to the location of the center of gravity of a loaded car which rests upon said rail sections against said chocks that said rockers are automatically actuated to rock forward on said supports to a position in which the load is dumped from said car, and also so disposed that the weight of the empty caracting through its changed center of gravity automatically actuates the platform to return to normal position following the dumping operation. l

13. A dumping platform for cars comprising, in combination with supports, a pair of parallel rockers mounted on said supports, said rockers having` rail sections superposed thereon for receiving cars to be dumped, suitably located wheel chocks associated with said rail sections, said rockers having the front end portions thereof upwardly and forwardly curved and so disposed with respect to the location of the center of gravity of a loaded car which'is disposed upon said rail sections against said chocks that said rockers are automatically actuated to rock forward on saidsupports to a position in which the load is dumped from said car, and adjustable vmeans for inclining the planes of the supports upon which said platform rocks forward as aforesaid for causing the latter to rock rearward to normal position following the dumping operation.

14. A dumping platform for cars comprising. in combination with supports provided with upper surfaces disposed in an approximatelyhorizontal plane, a pair of parallel rockers seated upon said upper surfaces, said asV rockers having rail sections superposed I vaforesaid to suit various oars` and various A conditions ofv loading so that, due to the` -fWltnessesz a position in which the load iS dumped Jfrom lplatform will automatically return to norsaidv car, and adjustable means for inclining mal position. the planes tof the portions osaid supports In testimony whereof, laffix my signature upon which said platform rocks forward as .in .presence of twoasubsor-ibing Witnesses.

' CLEMENT: 0. SMlTH. 1

shifting of the center-0f gravity produced by H. E. DUNLAP -`the dumping of the: load, the ernptycarv and GLY-Dn F..AM0S. 

